GUEST COLUMNIST: The expertise of Trammell Crow

Gary Hack, Guest Columnist Gary Hack, Guest Columnist There has been a great deal of rhetoric about the proposed agreement with Trammell Crow, and this is certainly the time to discuss it. But let's not lose sight of the undeniable fact that every dollar we misspend on construction and maintenance of our buildings and grounds leaves one less dollar for teaching and research. We need a different discipline. We know we can benefit from someone asking, "Do we really need a belt and suspenders?" Especially an organization that can analyze building methods and costs, and has long experience in managing successful projects. Sansom Common, which is being built on time and on budget -- and within the financial constraints of paying its own way -- illustrates the value of selectively using outside expertise. LaSalle Partners, charged with managing the $120 million project, has drawn from its wide range of professionals and the best consultants to design build and lease the project. The bookstore and shops will be open less than two years from the day the developer and architect were selected, with the hotel following close behind. Penn is moving into a period of almost unprecedented renovation and construction -- academic facilities to support the changing way we teach and learn, student residences, new and badly needed recreational facilities. We would need to multiply our staff to carry out dozens of projects at a time. It makes no sense to hire an army of new professionals, when we can acquire the expertise through a relationship with a respected organization in the business of building and managing facilities. There is no doubt that we can maintain our facilities better and at less cost. In the Graduate School of Fine Arts, we pay roughly twice as much each year for operations and maintenance of facilities as would be considered acceptable in the private sector. And to keep on top of the lengthy list of things left undone by the maintenance staff, we need to assign our own staff as building managers, spending their days on the phone trying to determine who can help. Multiply this by Penn's 10 million square feet of classrooms, laboratories, student residences, offices and recreational facilities and you can get some sense of the waste of dollars and human resources. If we enter into this agreement, do we lose control over our buildings and campus? Not with that is being discussed, where all decisions about selection of architects, design, and the quality of buildings will remain with the University. If we enter into this agreement, do we destroy the careers of good people? The fact is, the good people I know in facilities management, and there are many, will have enormous opportunities for professional growth and career advancement with Trammell Crow. They become part of a growing organization working in many locations. If we enter into this agreement, do those who sign on with Trammell Crow suffer losses in their benefits? There are differences in the respective benefit programs, but I am convinced that Penn is working very hard to offset those differences. I wouldn't expect anything less. We have an opportunity to improve our campus environment and free up resources for academic purposes with this agreement. That's why I'm an enthusiastic supporter.